A few months after phasing out the dark grey-covered Ugandan passport and upgrading to the modern East African paper based e-passport, Uganda has yet again rolled out the polycarbonate e-passport effective today.
According to the ministry of Internal Affairs, the Polycarbonate e-passport is so necessary given its enhanced security features better than any other Ugandan passport made before, a great characteristic in this era of constant changes and advances in technology.
The polycarbonate e-passports comes with an electromagnetic chip and polycarbonate layers all infused together where personal data is engraved with a laser.
“The passport cannot be delaminated and this gives it the resilience and robustness for data security and protection, with strong anti-fraud features,” read a tweet from the ministry’s main twitter account.
“These enhanced features make the EAC e-passport easy to use at e-gates for self clearance, automated issuance of boarding passes, quick passenger processing worldwide (For ICAO member states) and full compliance with International security standards,” it further read.
The aim of this upgrade is to ensure enhanced security features, durability as well as conforming to the standard requirements as recommended by EAC and the International Civil Aviation Authority.
This implies better quality, easy data verification various airports of ICAO member states, better data protection and minimal chances of damage.
Passport fees for upgraded polycarbonate passports remain the same with extra charge. The transformation is not a replacement but simply an upgrade. However, this roll out will start with only ordinary passports. Both service and diplomatic passports will be rolled out in due course.
The ministry forecasts to have phased out all the other passport types still in use to the the polycarbonate e-passports in ten years time. The paper based EAC e-passports remain valid and will be used co-currently with the polycarbonate e-passport.
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